Meeting to study 2007-08 budget

GOVERNMENT WATCH

July 19, 2007

KISSIMMEE -- City commissioners will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in City Hall to talk about the 2007-08 budget.In the wake of an outside study, commissioners will hear recommendations on salaries and benefits for non-union employees, as well as a new job classification structure.

All department budgets will be discussed, and a proposed tax rate of $3.71 per $1,000 of taxable property value is expected to be set. That's a lower rate than required by state tax cuts. Last year, the city's tax rate was $5.54 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

Kissimmee is able to lower the tax rate beyond the state-mandated 9 percent because it is planning to implement a fee for fire services that will compensate for some of the revenue lost through the tax cut.

Residents will see a decrease in taxes, City Manager Mark Durbin said. Kissimmee's total budget will be about $6 million less than this year, but non-union employees would still get a 3 percent salary increase, he added.

That is possible because Durbin said he is recommending eliminating 18 open positions, which would save about $900,000.

Public hearings on the plan will be scheduled for Sept. 4 and Sept. 18.